Impelling mechanism



April 13,1926.

' J. El BORDEN IMPELLING MECHANISM Filed June 1v, 19241 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 'g4/Es EDGAR sonda April 13, i926.

J. E. EORDEN IMPELLING MECHANISM /Nve/vron JAMES EDGAR BORDE/v ATTORNEY-S April -13 192s.

1,580,808 J. E. BORDEN vIMPELLING ECHANISM .Filed June 1,7, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 o v f INVENTOR JAMES EDGAR BORDEN J. E. BORDEN IMPELLING MECHANISM Filed June l?, 192,4 4 sheets sheet 4 Patented Apr. 13, 1926.

UNITED stares fraraNr orrigC13. fl

JiiMns4 EDGAR BORDER, or PORTSMOUTH, NRW HAMrsiiIRE.

IMPRLLING MEcHANrsM.

Application filed June 17,

leither as a lrotary pump, driven by a prime motor to force water, or other fluid,v through a conduit, or as a rotary engine or motor driven by a fluid under pressure.v

The invention is embodied in the improved impelling iiiechani'sm, and in the various structural parts thereof, hereinafter de* scribed and claimed.

Of the accompanying drawings forming a, part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a side View, partly in elevation and partly in verticalsection, of an impelling mechanism embodying the invention.

Figure 1a is a fragmentary section on a reduced scale.

- Figure 2 is a fragmentary section, showing one end of the casing, and a fluid-directing plate therein.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a ter-v minal conforming portion.

Figure 4 is la section on line 4-4of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a perspective viewof thev separator. y

Figure 6 is a perspective view of one ofl the vanes hereinafter described.

' Figure 7 is a fragmentary section on line 7-7 of Figure4.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary section on line 8-8 of Figure 4. y

Figure 9 is aside view, showing the two fluidedirecting plates assembled.

Figure 10 is a section on line 10-10 of Figure 1, as seen from the intake end, parts shown by Figure 1 being omitted.

Figure 11 is a'section on line 11-11 of Figure 1,`as seen from the outlet end.

Figure 12 is a section through the synchronizing gear shaft axis, as seen from the intake end.

Figure 13 is a perspective view, showing separably the sectional shaft carrying a Huid-directing plate.

Figure 14 is a view somewhat similar to `same pai-ts in all of the figures.4

1924. Serin No. 720,567.

Figure 1,-but showing a'modified construction.

Figurel is top plan partly in section of the saine construction. l

Figure 16 is a longitudinal section through a relief valve.

"Figure 17 is a section on line17-17 of Figure 16.`

Thesame reference characters indicate the Referring to Figures 1ste 13, the casing of my improved mechanism provides a fluid conduit including reducedterminal portions 12,` 12, one of whichconstitutes a iuid The castake, and the other a fluid outlet. ing is preferably of sectional construction.J

Vas shown by Figuresl and 4, the terminal portions 12 being flanged, and preferably rectangular in cross section, and connected by bolts 15 to flanged'conformingportions, or adapters, shown by Figures 1 and 3. Each of the adapters here shown indicates a rectangular flange 12a, coupled to a vrectangular flange on a terminal portionl12, a`V

circular flange 12b, adapted to be" coupled to a circular flange on a cylindrical conduit section, not shown, forming a part of a pipe line, and an, intermediate conduit `portion 12C. i

The casing is enlarged between the terminal portions 12, and includes curved wall 't casing, the function of which will appear hereinafter. The casing maybe constructed in flcnged half sections as at 131'and 132 in VFigure 12 bolted together. The upper wall portion 13 is preferably separable from the body or mainportion of the casing, to permit access to the interior ofthe latter, and is formed as a part of a cover section 13a, which is flanged and secured by bolts 14 to the fianges formedon the body of the casing.

`Within the said elliptical enlargement is a fixed elliptical separator 16, forming inner walls of two channels 17, the outer walls of which are formed by the wall portions 13.

casing, preferably by the means hereinafter described, and its major axis is substantially at right angles with the major axis of the elliptical enlargement of the casing, so that the channels 17 are of varying Width, as shown by Figures 1 and 1". The elliptical enlargement includes side walls 13", having offset portions 13', forming circular recesses or housings. one elevated above the other, as shown by Figure yl. n each of the housings is located a shroud wheel, each designated as a Whole by the reference numeral 18 in Figure 4, the wheel in the upper housing being called the upper shroud wheel, and the .other the lower shroud wheel. Saidwheels approximately till the housings, and their inner sides are substantially flush with the main portions of the side walls 13", so that fluid passing through the elliptical enlargement is guided in part by the shroud wheels, and in part by the said main portions Each shroud wheel is fixed to a shaft 19, which is journuled in fixed bearings hereinafter described, supported by the casing, the shafts projecting outward from the outer sides of the wheels. The shaft of the upper shroud wheel is concentric with the upper wall portion 13 of the elliptical casing enlargement, and the shaft of the lower shroud wheel is concentric with the lower wall portion 13.

Fixed to and projecting` from the inner' side of each shroud wheel is a series of cantilever pins 20.

The mechanism includes a series of elongated vaines 21, having sockets 22 in their end portions. Each vane is preferably of vthe flattened or elliptical form shown by shaft, parallel with the wheel shafts 19, and

journaled in fixed bearings, 211 (Figure 12). One end portion of the synchronizing shaft is provided with a gear 25 (Figures l., 4t, 7 and 12), meshing with a smaller gear 26 on the shaft 19 of the upper shroud wheel. The opposite ond portion of the synchronizing shaft is provided with a gear 25" (Figures 1, 8 and 12), meshing with a smaller gear 26a on the shaft 19 of the lower shroud wheel. The arrangement is such that the vanes 21 have an orbital movement in the channels 17, and are maintained with their major axes parallel with each other. and substantially at right angles with the path of fiuid flowing through the channels, so that each vane presents a broad side to the fluid, as indicated by Figures 1 and 1a.

The casing is provided with fluid guiding or deflecting means, as hereinafter described,

whereby fluid may be caused to pass wholly at one side of the separator 16, and through only one of the channels il, so that the vanes in one channel are active. while those iu the other channel are inactive.

The shroud wheel shafts 19 are prefera'ily tulnilaigunfl cooperate with the means next 'lescribed for detachably securing the sepa lator 1b in its operative position. l hat# embodied said means in rods 2T, screwtlireadcd at their inner ends, and engaged with tapped sockets 28, in the separator. Said rods extend through the hollow wheel shafts 19, and through glands 29, secured by bolts 2: (Figure 1) to the outer ends of said shafts, and rotating with the lutter on the rods 27. The outer ends of the rods 27 are rigidlyy connected with. the fixed supports, to prevent rotation of the rodsr` by pins El() passing through the rods, and arms 81 fixed to said supports and engaged with the pins 31, as shown by Figures 1 and The si id fixed supports are preferably uprights 50, forming portions of two extensions projecting laterally from the central portion of the casing, as shown by Figure 4'. Said uprights are provided with outer bearings 32, for the wheel shafts 19.

Said shafts are provided at opposite sides of the bearings 32 with collars 19a. Inner' bearings for the wheel shafts 19 are provided by hollow bosses 35, fixed to and projecting' outward from the central portion of the casing, and glands 34 secured by bolts B11-.a (Figure 1) to said bosses, and securing packing at 34". Packing is also secured at 34C by the glands 29.

F or combined lightness and strength each shroud wheel is preferably composed of two spaced apart disks 18", a tubular hub 18", secured by its flanged ends to said disks, and suitably fixed to the wheel shaft, and tubular separators 1S" secured by their flanged ends to the disks, the cantilever pins 20 being` fixed in said separators. i

The synchronizing shaft 23, and the gearing connecting vthe same with the shroudwheel shafts 19, constitute the ypreferred embodiment of means for synchronizing the rotation of the shroud wheels and causing the vanes 21 to stand in parallel planes. 1 desire it understood, however, that any other suitable synchronizing means may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention. Y'

I will now describe the preferred means for directing the fluid passing through the casing, so that it will flow through one of the passages 17, and will be excluded from the other.

l0 represents a directing plate. or gate, hinged within one end portion of the casing, and adapted to swing between stop shoulders 40, to deflect fluid entering the casing into one or other of the passages 17, the plate til) lUU

being adapted tovv be thrown into one or otherot the two positions, shown by full and dotted' lines: in Figure 9', to suit-thev drive desired, be it right hand or lei't hand when used as a motor; and when used asa pump to suit rotation oi the shroud-wheel varies. The plate has a hub at its inner edge, attached as by a pin 38" to a two piece transverse shaft 538-38, which is journaled in. bea-rings 13g' and 13 (Figure 10) at opposite 'sides of the casing.v AThe bearing 13g is Vclosed by a rap 36. The bearing 13, is an element ot a stuling-box, andi has a packingconfining gland 3?.

To the projecting end oi the shaft is fixed as by. a nut 43', a crank arm 4L, whereby' the plate 40 may lbe swung from one operative position to the other. The plate 40 proget-ts in only one direction 'from its hub, and is therefore called a one-armed directing-plate.

39 Vrepresents a directing-plate or gate hinged within the opposite end portion of the casing and adapted to swing between stop shoulders. 39a to guide fluid tothe casing outlet after it haspassed through one passage 17, and prevent'baclt flow of the tluid through, or into the other passage. rEhe plate 39 has a hub midway between its ends attached to a shaft 38, 4which is, paired withthe shaft 38a, both being journaled in hearings similar to those of the shaft SS-'B'Sa as shownby Figures 10:' and 11. The plate 39 projects in opposite directions: from its hub, and is called a two-armed directingplate. Avcrank arm 42a -iXed to the shaft 38a, enables the plate 39 .to be swung from either of the positions shown by "full and dottedl lines in Figure 9, to the other position.

vA biasing' weight 46- attached to the crank arni 42a is adapted to hold the two-armed 'plate 39 in either of its operative positions.

When the plate 39? is in the full lineposition, its inner arm directs flu-id from ther lower passage. 17 to the outlet end of the casing, and its louter arm prevents back flow of. the luid to, er' toward the ripper passage 17?. To enable the directing plates. to be swung in unison, I provide a connecting rod 48, Secured at one end by a yoke piece 45 tothe crank arm 42, and .by a Vpin 49 to lthe weight 46.

Each of the director plate sha-its is preferably composed of twoseparable-sections to aid assembling as shown separately by Figure 13, the inner end of one section having a tongue 38d, and the inner end of the other section a tongue-receiving groove 38C. One of the sections has an enlargement 382 confined bythe cap 36 in an enlargement of the bearing 13g.

The casing is provided with a fixed crossbar 51, having a curved outer edge fitting the hub of the plate 40', as shown by Figure 2, and a curved edge `tace 51a, ,which is a c-rossbar, formed to arrest either. of the arms of the plate 39, when said plate is in van operative position, and provided with a curved edge iiace 5.3.3, which is another segment of said'el'lipse. i

It might sometimes happenrthroughwear of' the parts, or otherrcause, that the `fluid might` leak into the inactive passage of the mechanism and being trapped therein would create back pressure., lin order to prevent such action the inactive passage of the channel' may be rprovided with aA relief passage opening 'to the tail race.` As. either passage maybe inactive the opposite side bei-ngn active, depending on themanner in which the directing vanes. are positioned', connection to the tail race; is: provided; from both branchesfot the tl'uid. channel, a valve being interposed therein movable to.` close that passageextending from the active branch .at any time whileleaving the .other branch or passage open.; This is` disclosed in Figures 1, 4,. 9 and 14 to 16inclusive.` Referring to these iignres, pipes, as 5.40' and 54d, extend from portsI 54e -and"54f. opening -into the upper and lower channels, respectively, and

which leads a pipe tgrextending tothe tail race;.4 The valve. casing; 65 has therein a vpair of alIin-eddirec-ting vanes 399, as shown in Figures 16. and` 17,` which may be positioned as shown in full' lines in Figure 16, so that the vane's closel oi the.pipe54i from the outlet 54g? while opening t-l'ie pipe? 54 thereto, or these vanes may betuined sol that they close off the pipe. 54m-while the pipe 54 is open to the exhaust pipe 514g'. The full line position is shown in Figure -16 vwiththe 'pipe 54 opento the tail race. sothaty the upper passage is vented while the lowerpassage ycommunieating with the pipe 54d is;V closed oft. This; corresponds to the position of the parts. when the lower passageis active shown in Figure. 14. l When it is'desired to reverse the direction of 'the impelling mech-A anism v,by directing the liow through the upper passage, the directing plates -39 and 40 are thrown over to direct the fluid through the upper passage as'heretofore described. Then this is done the upper port 54e should vbe closed oli ,from the tail race, while the lower port 54i should be openthereto. This may be done by reversing the directing vanes withiny the valve casing V65 and in order that it may be done in time with the reversals ofthe flow directingfplates 39, and 40, connection maybe madetherefrom to the actuating nieclianism/for these directing plates.

.communicating with a valve casing1651 from l As shown this comprises an arm 42h fixed to the shaft 38j and 3S on which the vanes 390 are carried, this arm 112" beingpivotcd to a link58a extending to the operating arm of connecting rod 48. YWhen this connecting rod is thrown to either of its positions the directing vanes 390 are therefore also thrown in a corresponding manner, as is shown in Figure 9.

In .iligure 1 a slight modification olf the position of valve 65 has been indicated, in this construction the link 58 being fixed to the counterweight t6 rather than extending to the intermediate coupling 59, as shown in 'Figure 9. 'lhe action, however, is the saine in both cases.

In Figures 14 and 15 a modified construction of the synchronizing mechanism Vhas been indicated. In these figures the shroud wheels V55 and 551 have peripheral teeth theron which mesh with pinions 260 carried by the equalizing shaft 23. The synchronizing means in this instance is thus entirely enclosed withinthe machine .casing and eliminates the necessity of th'e gears 26 and 26 illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 outside of the machine housing. Two cover plates 56 and 57 may be positioned on opposite sides of the casing to permit the ready removal and replacement of the rotor. Otherwise this construction is substantially the same as that illustrated in the other figures. i

lVhen the described mechanism is used as a motor, the impelling fluid may be either liquid or gaseous andthe intake end of the casing will preferably be that having-the single director plate l-O, this plate andthe two-armed -director plate 39 enable the direction of rotation of the rotor provided by the shroud wheels and vanes to be reversed by varying `the positions of said plates, as indicated by full and dotted lines in Figure 9. It will be noted also that the vent ports are on the side of therotor axis adjacent to the intake end of the casing.

When the mechanism is used as a pump, the rotor being driven by a suitable motor, either end of the casing may be conveniently used as the intake end. If the intake is at the end having the two-armed director plate 39 and the direction of rotation of the rotor is reversed when the plate 39 is in the position shown by Figures 1 and 14, and by full lines in Figure 9, said two-armed plate will be automatically shifted by the suction exerted by the rotor,` to the position shown by dotted lines in Figure 9,. the director plate l0 being automatically shifted at the same time through the described connections. The director plates may also be automatically shifted from the dotted line to the full line positions. The mechanism may be used as a pump for either liquid or gaseous fluid,

and'may be used to force the fluid in either direction, though the vent ports should be positioned adjacent to the suction end and lead to the suc-tion side of the directing vanes so that any fluid leaking into the inactive portion would find its Way back to the suction sidclwithout causing back pressure.

It will be noted that the elliptical contours of the vanes in theplane of their path of motion, which is also elliptical, cause them to engage the outer face of the separator 16 and the inner wall of the casing throughout nearly the entire periods when they are passing into and out of the active fluid channel, thus substantially sealing them against the entrance and exit walls of this channel as they pass therethrough. This avoids the trapping of fluid back of the vanes as they leave the fluid channel with the possibility of back' pressure thereon. 'Ihe fluid is thus permitted to pass through the mechanism with a steady flow substantially undisturbed by eddies or back pressure volumes and each of the vanes when entirely within the channel closes it transversely and so is effective in transmitting to or receiving energy from the flow. Any leakage past the vanes is taken carel of by the vents 511e and lf which, of course, might be made through the curved peripheral walls of the casing rather than through its ends, as shown, if desired.

It is obvious that the rotor composed of the shroud wheels, the vanes and the synchronizing means, may be employed as a motor, with a conduit adapted to conduct a fluid only at one side of the axis of the rotor, such, for example, as may be provided by omitting the upper channel 17 and the director plates, in which case the vanes will be acted on only by fluid passing through the lower channel 17, and it is also obvious that the mechanism might be arranged with its shroud wheel shafts vertical or at any desired inclination. v

Many other changes and modifications might also be -made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim: 1

1. An impellinginechanism comprising a rotor composed of an upper shroud wheel having ashaft journaled in fixed bearings, a lower shroud wheel having shaft journaled in fixed bearings and parallel with the shaft of the upper wheel, elongated vanes each pivotally connected at its upper end with the upper wheel, and at its lower end with the lower wheel, means for synchronizing the rotation of said wheels, and a fluid conduit arranged in the path of the vanes at one side of the axis of the rotor, the arrangement beingsuch that the vanes have an orbital movement and are maintained with their major axes parallel with each other tions between the said shroud wheels and the vanes being embodied in cantilever pins fixed to and projecting inwardly from the wheels, and sockets or bearings in the end portions of the vanes in which .said pins are adapted to turn.

3. An-impelling mechanism substantially as specified by claim l, each shroud ,wheel being composed of two spaced apart disks, a tubular hub secured at its ends to said disks, and fixed to the wheel shaft, tubular separators secured at their ends to said disks, and cantilever pins fixed to said separators and projecting from the inner side of the wheel, said pins being journaled in sockets in end portions of the said vanes.

4. An iinpelling mechanism comprising a casing forming a fluid conduit, having in` take and outlet end portions, and an inter-v mediate enlargement including curved wall portions, forming segments of an ellipse, theA major axis of which is perpendicular to the path ot fiuid passing through the conduit; an elliptical separator, means securing the separator within said enlargement, with its maj or axis substantially at right angles with the major axis of the ellipse of' which said wall portions are segments, said separator and wall portions foi'mingwalls of two curved channels of varying width at opposite sides of the separator; an upper shroud wheel having a shaft journaled in fixed bear; ings concentric with the upper curved wall portion of the enlargement, a lower shroud wheel having a shaft vjournaled in fixed bearings concentric with the lower curved wall portion of' said enlargement; elongated vaues, each pivotally connected at one end with the upper wheel, and at its other end with the lower wheel, and means for synchronizing the rotation 0f the shroud -\.vheels, the arrangement being such that the varies have an orbital movement inl said channels, and are maintained with their major axes parallel with each other, and substantially at right angles w-ith the path of the fluid.

5.v An impelling mechanism substantially as specified by claim 4, means being provided for directing fluid through either of said channels, and excluding it from the other channel. v

6. An impelliiig mechanism substantially as specified by claim 4, means being provided for directing fluid through either of said channels and excluding itfi'om the other channel, said means being automatically shiftable to` automatically change theflow of fluid Yfrom one channel to the other.

7. An impelling mechanism substantially as specified by claim 4, the said enlargement being provided with side walls having offset portions formi-ngcircular housings for said shroud wheels, the inner sides of the shroud wheels being substantially, liush with the main portions of the side walls, so that lll-'lid passing through Vthe enlargement is guided ini part by the shroud wheels, andl in part by.

said main portions.

iin impel-ling mechanism substantially as speciied by claim 4, the shroud-wheel shafts being tubular, and provided with' glands, and the separator-securing means being embodied in rods fixed at their inner ends to the separator, and extending through the hollow shafts and glands.

9. An impelling mechanism substantially as specified by claim 4, the shroud-Wheel shafts being tubular, and provided ywith glands, and the separator-securing means being embodied in rods fixed at their inner ends to the separator, and extending lthrough the hollow shaftsand glands, and

rigid connections between the outer ends of' said rods and the casing.

l0. An impelling mechanism substantially as specified by claim 4, the said casing comprising a central portion which includes said conduit, innerl wheel shaft bearings supported by said central portion, lateral extensions at opposite sides of the central portion, and outer wheel shaft bearings supported by said extensions. Y

ll. An impelling mechanism substantially as specified by claim 4, the said casing c om-V prising a central portion which includes said conduit, inner wheel shatt bearings supported by said central portion, lateralextensions at opposite sides. of the central portion, and

outer wheel shaft bearings supported by said extensions, said inner bearings being formed as stuffing boXes. Y

l2. An` impelling mechanism comprising a casing forming a fluid conduit, havingv the path of fluid passing `through kthe conv duit ,f and elliptical separator, means securing the separator within said enlargement with its-major axis substantially at" right angles with the major axis of the ellipse, of which said wall portions are segments, .said separator and wall portions forming walls of two curved channels of varying Width at opposite sides of the separator; an upper shroud wheel having a shaftv journaled in fixed bearings concentric with the upper portion' of the enlargement, a lower shroud wheel havinga shaft journaled in fixed bearings concentric with the lower portion of said enlargement, elongated varies, each pivotally connected at one end with the upper wheel, and at4 its. lower end with the lower wheel; a synchronizing shaft; and gears connecting the wheel shafts with the synchronizing shaft, the arrangement being such that the vanes have an orbital movement in said channels, and are maintained with their major axes parallel with each other, and substantially at right angles with the path of the fluid.

13. An impelling mechanism substantially as specified by claim 4, the portion of the casing which includes one of' said curved wall portions being removable and detachably secured to the body of the casing to permit access to the interior of the casing.

14. An impelling mechanism substantially as specified by claim 4, the end portions of the casing being angular in cross section, and provided with detachably secured eX` tensions, each angular at its inner. end to conform to an angular end of the casing, and circular at its opposite end to conform to a cylindrical conduit section.

15. An impelling mechanism substantially as specified by claim 4, comprising also hinged fluid-directing plates within the end portions of the casing, adapted to cause the passage of fluid through either of said channels, and means external to the casing for swinging said plates, the casing being provided with stops adapted to support said plates in different positions.

16. An impelling mechanism substantially as specified by claim 4, comprising also hinged iuid directing plates within the end portions of the casing adapted to cause the passage of fluid through either of said channels, and connections between said plates causing them to swing in unison, the casing being provided with stops adapted to support said plates in different positions.

17. An impelling mechanism substantially as specified by claim 4, comprising also hinged fluid directing plates within the end portions of the casing adapted to cause the passage of fluid through either of said channels, and connections between said plates causing them to swing in unison, the casing being provided with stops adapted to support said plates in different positions, one of said plates having two arms and being arranged to be automatically shifted and to shift the other plate through said eonnections.

18. Animpelling mechanism substantially as specified by claim 4, comprising also hinged fluid-directing plates within the end portions of the casing, adapted to cause the passage of fluid through either of said channels, crank arms connected with said plates outside the casing, and connections between said crank arms whereby the said plates may be simultaneously swung, the casing being provided with stops adapted to support said plates in different positions.

19. An impelling mechanism substantiaL ly as specified by claim 4, comprising also a one-armed fluid-directing plate hinged Within the intake end portion of the casing, and formed to deflect fluid into either of said channels, a two-arined fluid-directing plate hinged within the outlet portion of the casing, and formed to direct fluid from one of said passages, and prevent back flow of the fluid into the other passage, crank arms connected with said plates outside the casing, and connections between said crank arms whereby 'the plates may be simultaneously swung, the casing being provided with stops adapted to support said plates in different positions.

20. An iinpelling mechanism substantially as specified by claim 4, comprising also a onc-arn'ied fluid-directing plate hinged within the intake portion of' the casing, and formed to deflect fluid into either of said channels, a two-arined fluid-directing plate hinged within the outlet portion of the casing, and formed to direct fluid from one of said passages, and prevent back flow of the fluid into the other passage, crank arms connected with said plates outside the casing, and connections between said crank arms whereby the plates may be simultaneously swung, the casing being provided with stops adapted to support said plates in different positions, the said connections including a biasing weight whereby the said plates are confined in either of the positions to which they may be swung. l

21. An iinpelling mechanism comprising a series of vanes held in parallel relation and movable in an elliptical path, `0f a casing enclosing said vanes and defining a fluid channel substantially closed transversely by said vanesthroughout one portion of their path and defining lateral openings through which said vanes enter and leave said channel at opposite ends of said portion, said vanes being' of elliptical cross section in the plane of their path to substantially close said openings during their passage therethrough.

22. An impelling mechanism comprising a series of vanes held in parallel relation and movable in an orbital path, of a casing defining a fluid channel conforming to a portion of said path through Vwhich said vanes pass, and defining lateral openings to said channel through which said vanes pass into and Iout of said channel, said vanes being of such cross sectional contour relative to their path of motion as to substantially close such openings during their time of travel therethrough.

23. An impelling mechanism comprising a series of vanes held in parallel relation and movable in an orbital path, of a casing defining a fluid channel conforming to a portion of `said path through which said vanes pass and substantially closed transversely by each of the vanes therein, and defining lateral openings to said channel through which said vanes pass into and out of said channel, said vanes being of such cross sectional contour relative to their. path of motion as to substantially close such openings during their time of travel there through.

24. An impelling mechanism comprising a rotor composed of a pair of shroud Wheels journaled for rotation on parallel axes, vanes each pivotally connected at opposite ends to said Wheels, means for synchronizing the rotation of said Wheels, and a fluid conduit arranged in the path of the vanes at one side of the axis of the rotor, the arrangement being such that the vanes have an orbital movement and are maintained With their major axes parallel With each other and at right angles to the path of fluid in said conduit.

25. An impelling mechanism comprising a rotor composed of a pair of shroud wheels journaled for rotation on parallel axes, vanes each pivotally connected at opposite ends to said Wheels, means engageable with the peripheries thereof for synchronizing the rotation of said Wheels, and a fluid conduit arranged in the path of the vanes at one side of the axis of the rotor, the arrangement being such that the vanes have an orbita-l movement and are maintained With their major axes parallel with each other and at right angles to the path of fluid in said conduit.

26. An impelling mechanism comprising i a rotor composed of a pair of shroud Wheels journaled for rotation on parallel axes, vanes each pivotally connected at lopposite ends to said Wheels, means for synchronizing the rotation of said Wheels, a fluid conduit arranged in the path of the vanes on each of opposite sides of the axis of the rotor, said conduits merging at either end, and plates movable to direct fluid to either of said conduits and to close off the other conduit, the arrangement being such that the vanes have an orbital movement and are maintained With their major axes parallel With each other and at right angles to the path of fluid in said conduit.

27. An impelling mechanism comprising a rotor composed of a pair yof shroud Wheels journaled for rotation on parallel axes, vanes each pivotally connected at opposite ends to said Wheels, said Wheels having peripheral gear teeth, a shaft having pinions fixed thereto meshing With the teeth of said shroud Wheels to effect simultaneous synchronized movement of Said Wheels, a fluid conduit arranged in the path of the vanes on each of the opposite sides of the axis of the rotor, said conduits merging at either end, and plates movable to either of said p conduits and to close off the other conduit.

28. An impelling mechanism comprising a casing shaped to define a pair of passages, a series of impeller vanes mounted to travel in a closed path passing through said passages on opposite portions thereof, means for directing fluid through either of Said passages to determine the relative directions of travel of fluid flow, and means for venting the passages closed 0H to permit the escape of leakage therefrom.

29. An impelling mechanism comprising a casing shaped to define a pair of passages spaced apart at said ends, a series of impeller vanes mounted to travel in a closed path and passing through said assages at opposite portions of said pat fluid-directing plates movable to direct the fluid to either of said passages at Will, and to exclude vent ports leading from said passages to a point beyond the directing plates in the direction of the floW of the fluid, and means controlled by said directing plates for opening the port leading from that passage from Which the fluid is excluded and into Which the fluid is directed.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

JAMES EDGAR BORDEN. 

